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12/19/2008

Top Ten Last Minute Gift Ideas for the Amateur Athlete

With the holidays knocking at the door, we have updated our annual Top Ten gifts for that special athlete in your life. Here are some great last minute gift ideas arranged from least to most expensive.

Warning Number One is a Shameless self promoting plug:

1) If you or your tri buddy have any ambitions of ever doing an Ironman; “No Seriously My Training Starts Tomorrow The Everyman's Guide to IRONFIT Swimming, Cycling, & Running" by Roman Mica is a must read. This book chronicles the my first Ironman race as well as the many mistakes he made going from Everyman to Ironman It is a fun read that tells some of the best early race stories from somebody who has made every mistake in the book. *Cost $16.95 in paperback.

And if you order it
from us by clicking HERE, we'll have Roman sign a copy of the book for you and your buddy or you can but it on Amazon.com HERE.

2) There’s nothing that says happy holidays like a card. How about sending your tri buddy a triathlon card? Or better yet, getting him or her an entire box of triathlon cards just in time for the holiday season. Visit Tri Santa today and get your cards before the snow starts flying. *Cost Under $25.00

3) Our new partners, the FamilyFanClub.net,
an online shop where you can purchase adorable items that “celebrate
support of athletic and fitness accomplishment," wants to give a really great holiday present.

With great slogans like “Swim Daddy Swim” and “I need more Cowbell”,
your family can become an instant cheering section! Imagine how fun it
would be to see your child or spouse wearing their “Run Mommy Run!” t-shirt
during your next race?

All
you have to do is visit their web site and take look at some of the
most fun Holiday presents you'll ever want for your friends and family.

They are offering one lucky EverymanTri reader a free T-shirt of your choice!

Visit their site, check out their great slogans, and then tell us (in the comments section below) which shirt or slogan is your favorite and why. The contest will end December 14th, 2008. Winner will be chosen at random and must provide a US mailing address.

Stop by the store and browse our triathlon, running, cycling and
swimming designs on t-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons, magnets, stickers
and many other products. Makes a great gift this holiday season with
most items under $25.

4) The ultimate triathlete gift basket: For those of you on a budget, but with a bit of time and energy, here’s a great gift basket that you can throw together in online or with a short trip to your local sports store. It can include:

a) The basket (We'd use a nice big sports duffel bag perfect for all the stuff a triathlete needs to drag to the transition area)

b) Body Glide (Keeps the triathlete in your life from chaffing)

c) Sun Tan Lotion ( We like Bull Frog as it is water proof and non greasy and doesn’t smell like coconuts or some other fruity scent that we don’t want to smell when we're in the heat of a race)

d) Portable Wet Wipes (Great for removing the numbers from your skin or a quick cleaning up after a sweaty race)

e) Tieless “Lock” shoelaces ( A must for anybody who want to look like a Pro)

h) Power bars, GU, Cliffbars and any other sort of quick nutrition that your tri-buddy may use (We like snickers because they don’t make us look like pros)

i) Liquid Band Aids (great for sealing those last minutes nicks or cuts)

j) Lip balm/sun tan protection

k) Socks (DeFeet does a great line of triathlon socks with little images of swimmers, bikers and runners. You can get them at Tri Sports.

l) Fuel Belt (And NOT the Fuel Hat that holds two beer cans) That’s something that may be more useful after the race *Total cost of The Ultimate Triathlete Gift Basket is between $50 and $100 depending how full Santa decides to stuff it.

5) Polar FT60 with G1 Heart Rate Monitor/GPS: Watch Most Triathletes we know could not train without a heat rate monitor. Why? Because they are the essential raining tool. We purchased tested our first Polar this year and we're really impressed by the quality of the watch. Not only is it easy to read and use but it seems to be truly Iron name worthy for its durable good looks and racing pedigree. You can read our Review of the watch HERE. Price: 329.95

6) Coaching: the triathlon gift that keeps on giving. How about
getting that special triathlete in your life a coach? Person coaching
can get a bit pricey but you can purchase online training plans or
monthly training plans. We really like MarkAllenOnline.com We know Mark
personally and you won’t go wrong with him or his partner in coaching Luis Vargas.

Between
the two of them they have decades of experience and one of the deepest
and longest winning histories in the sport of triathlon. Click HERE
to sign-up online for their program or to just learn more about what
makes their program the first choice of many amateur athletes around
the world.

7)You can’t help but notice that all the best athletes wear
Zeal Optics sunglasses. So if want your buddy to be hip with the
coolest sun glasses you have to go with Zeal Optics. We like the Lift
model as it is light and great on both the bike and the run.
*Cost $110. Check out the complete line of Zeal Sunglasses on their web site.

FYI: When youvisit Zeal Optics and use the Discount code "everymanzeal" and save 20 percent immediately.

8) Every triathlete will at some point in his or her race
development need a wet suit. A wet suit can be a bit tricky to buy for
your tri buddy as it must fit correctly. But you can buy a gift
certificate so that your buddy can get it for himself or herself. We
like 2XU *Cost $250 to $500

9)We had a terrific year of racing thanks to
the great folks at Colorado Multisport. Not only did Tim and his helper elves get us the
perfect bike fits, but their shop is just a virtual endurance paradise of
everything you would ever need to train and race. Plus a tri-specific
bike is always very high on any triathletes holiday wish list.

For that ultimate gift we would go to Colorado Multisport. They’ve have the best tri bikes and bike fits, and sell the most popular triathlon bike brands. * Cost $1200 to $10,000.

10) Polar RS800CX Multi:

For the triathlete who has everything we would suggest the Polar
RS800CX Multi with Heart Rate Monitor and GPS. This is the ultimate toy
for
those who love to train and crunch numbers. Ideal for cross-terrain
sports like running, cycling, Nordic skiing,
in-line skating, and kayaking, this is an essential addition to your
training.

Not only can you see how far you’ve run or biked, and at what pace, and in
what heart rate zone, but you can download all that info into your
computer when you get home.

Plus you can wear it everyday as a great looking and stylish watch. You can learn all about it at. Check out all of the watches specifications HERE.

Bonus Gift Idea #1:

Why not give one of the best gifts of all---Heath and Wellness. We suggest Liz Stein (our holistic nutrition
partner). Liz is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor who specializes in working with endurance athletes.

Please visit her web site www.appetiteforhelthyliving.com for some great nutritional programs for amateur endurance athletes and mention EverymanTri for a 20 percent discount.

Bonus Gift Idea #2

Give The Gift of Ironman: Endurance Sports Travel has entry slots to many sold out races including Ironman Germany,
Ironman Switzerland and Ironman Austria. They also have slots for non US and Canadian clients for Ironman Lake Placid, Ironman Canada, Ironman Wisconsin and Ironman Florida, Click HERE to visit their web site and check out the ultimate last minute gift

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Top Ten Last Minute Gift Ideas for the Amateur Athlete

With the holidays knocking at the door, we have updated our annual Top Ten gifts for that special athlete in your life. Here are some great last minute gift ideas arranged from least to most expensive.